Sued in the 52-2 District Court?

The 52-2 District Court — sometimes called the Clarkston District Court — is located just north of downtown Clarkston off Lorac Drive. Clarkston itself is the smallest city in Michigan by area, but the court's jurisdiction extends across a wide swath of northwestern Oakland County covering ten communities.

The court handles civil, criminal, traffic, and probation matters. Civil cases include debt collection lawsuits, landlord-tenant disputes, and damage claims under $25,000. The small claims division handles cases with lower dollar amounts, where parties typically represent themselves. A defendant in a small claims case has the option of moving the case to the general civil division if they want to be represented by an attorney.

For defendants facing a civil lawsuit — such as a credit card debt collection case — the timeline is the same across all Michigan district courts. Defendants generally have 21 days from the date of service to file a written response. Missing this deadline can result in a default judgment, which may lead to wage garnishment, frozen bank accounts, and a judgment on the defendant's record.

Hearings are conducted either in person or via remote technology, depending on the type of hearing scheduled. Defendants who have questions about the format of their hearing or how to attend should contact the court directly.

Specialty courts operate within the 52-2 District, including the Sobriety Court, the North Oakland Regional Veterans Treatment Court, and the Mental Health Treatment Court. These programs provide alternatives to traditional sentencing for qualifying individuals.

The courthouse on Lorac Drive is accessible from M-15 (Main Street/Dixie Highway) and is located in a residential area north of downtown Clarkston. Parking is available on-site.